Ministry launches intermodal station consultancy

Chile's public works ministry has published bidding rules to carry out pre-design studies for the Pajaritos intermodal transfer station in Santiago's western suburbs, the ministry announced. The tender is broken into two contracts, tagged "urban" and "interurban" solutions. Offers are due November 25, the same day technical bids will be opened, while economic bids will be opened December 2. The stations are an integral component of Santiago's US$1.62bn urban transport plan Transantiago, which aims to create a modern integrated bus and subway network by 2005, which is expected to reduce traffic congestion and pollution. QUINTA NORMAL, LA CISTERNA Meanwhile, technical offers for Quinta Normal and La Cisterna stations will be opened December 16 and 23, and economic offers January 27 and 29, respectively. Quinta Normal will be built at the northern terminus of a 1.93km extension of the city's Metro line 5, at a cost of US$25mn; while La Cisterna will be built at the southern terminus of the extended Metro line 2, as well as that of a future complementary stretch of Line 4 that is under construction. This station will cost US$20mn.